If necessary, you can review the the IPlan Assignment sheet here. Complete the process shown in the diagram below by following the steps and answering the questions for each step.
a. Take a few minutes to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses as a teacher. Strengths
I believe that my strengths as a teacher come mainly from my personality I am a loud and entertaining person. In my classroom, I feel I have these character traits so I should use them. I use my tone to demand attention and my sense of humor to keep it. While I do not have much experience as a teacher I have plenty as a student in that I know that, the best lessons are those that apply to real life. I feel I have a personal strength in relating topics to the real world. My biggest strength as a teacher is my devotion to my students I want all my students to succeed and I am willing to do whatever it takes to help them.
Weaknesses
I have found that I have some areas to improve on in the classroom. My biggest weakness is timing; both how long will this assignment take my students and logical progression of class. My problem with the logical progression of class is that I often forget to ask students to do things like take out the last assignment before I start to review it. This often leads to a situation where I have to stop class to allow the students to get out the assignment I should have had them get out in the first place.
I do not have many issues with classroom management, but I do however need to learn "grace under fire" I can deal with one or two problems just fine but when the whole class brakes down I find it difficult to get the class up and running again.
b. Describe some of your students' strengths and needs that you have noticed so far.
The unit I am teaching is magnets and motors, it is a very project based unit and therefore involves a lot of students centered group work. I have chosen to group students by achievement level (i.e. low achieving with high achieving). The problem this crated is that my low achieving students are as happy not doing anything as the high achieving are doing everything. This has lead to several discussions about the proper nature of group work and no small amount of movement on my part. The one thing I have noticed is that every student has strengths and weaknesses. While some students may have reoccurring issues I find that there is no student who will not eventually need the extra push, no matter their academic standing.
c. Download and complete this URI Self Evaluation form based on one of the lessons you taught last week. Be sure to write down specific evidence from either your lesson plan or your memory of your enactment for each assessment you give. Use a highlighter to identify areas of your teaching/lesson that were either below standard or that you feel needs improvement.
My Observation Form
a. Review your school improvement document(s). (If you forgot them, download a SALT visit.)
b. Synthesize your review by completing the following table as best your can:
What is the need?
How will improvement help your students?
How will improvement help your school?
RIBT Standard/Element Addressed?
1.
Maximize the use of available technologies
Multiple media sources help to facilitate all learner types.
The use of technology helps to create tech savvy students.
2.4,4.1
2.
Properly utilize scheduling options
Large activities do not need to be broken up. Students can attend all classes on half days.
By using a flexible schedule, the teams can ensure an equal amount of time in all subjects even with snow days and other such occasions.
4.1,4.4,6.4
3.
Incorporate reading goals into the schools improvement goals
The students will have improved literacy skills.
Improved reading and writing skills help prove written proficiency.
1.2,8.2,8.4,
4.
Differentiate instruction
It provides students with more strategies to increase academic success.
By implementing universal design of learning, it will allow teachers to assist in reaching each student’s learning benchmark/ goal through accomdations/extra support/unique needs
3.2,4.1
Formulate a professional development goal based the needs that you have identified. This goal should be:
measurable/observable
should lead to improvement of teaching, student achievement, and/or improvement of learning environment.
should describe new knowledge or skills that you will acquire and how that knowledge/skill will affect the school/district setting.
linked to applicable Rhode Island Beginning Teacher Standards and elements, e.g. RIBTS 2.4.
In the space below, describe your professional development goal. In a second paragraph, use the information above to provide a rationale for your goal by explaining the personal need that it will address as well as how addressing this goal benefits your students and your school.
I. Professional Development Goal
My professional development goal is to maximize the utilization of the schools technologies. Westerly middle school was recently rebuilt and with the new school new technologies where made available to teachers. The 2007 SALT report credited the school with having a fantastic multi media center filled with technologies. The report went on to state the teachers needed to use the technologies in their classrooms more often. I have already used the schools LCD projectors and document cameras on several occasions and hope to get access to one of the schools smart boards. It is not just the SALT report that stresses the importance of technology in the classroom but the RIBTS. RIBTS 2.4 states, "The teacher incorporates appropriate technological recourses to support student exploration of the disciplines."
I believe that use of technology in a classroom helps to provide alternative enrichment opportunities for students of different learning types. It is understood that different people learn better from different sources, so while a lecture may help a students who is an auditory learner a visual learner needs something more. I find technology is an excellent way of providing visual examples that both help students with a strong visual style and can be used to connect concepts to the real word. When a student is able to able to see examples of subject matter in their daily lives they are more likely to consider that information important. When you incorporate technology into your classrooms, school benefits from a tech savvy student body. The more you use technology with students the better they will be able to work similar technologies. The school can then encourage teachers who are not as versed in the use of technology in their classrooms to try incorporating some tech-filled lessons. In a school where students are tech savvy teachers can take risk using new technologies, knowing their students can help.
Now that you have a PD goal, think about what type of learning opportunities you will participate in to address your needs. Use these links to investigate learning options:
Based on what you have found out, write a 1-2 paragraph narrative outlining at least two ways (PD categories) you will engage in engage in by the end of your first year of teaching. For each activity, explain how you think it will address the need that you have identified.
II. Professional Development Plan
I will need to be adequately prepared to use the technologies so I will need to attend some sort of training session so I can learn to use the available technologies to their full potential. While I maybe able to use the technology available in a rookie manner, I know that there are countless functions and applications for the different available technologies which I will need to learn. I feel if I am going to use technology in my classroom, I should have a proficient understanding of all possible applications and settings.
Once I have a decent understanding of the technologies and their uses I will want to work with the teachers at my school to help spread the knowledge. I feel if I can learn all the applications for just one devise such as a smart board, I will then be able to transfer this knowledge I have gained to further the knowledge of other teachers who may not be proficient yet. Sharing this information with other teachers helps in promoting collaboration among the school community in which teachers can further enhance their lessons through a multimedia approach. The teachers in the school with more classroom experience can give feedback to new teachers such as myself on possible way to implement this new technology into different teaching strategies and applications.
Print your PD plan to PDF
Post your PD Plan to True Outcomes
Return to True Outcomes to evaluate a peer's plan the following week.
EDC 484 IPlan Synthesis
If necessary, you can review the the IPlan Assignment sheet here. Complete the process shown in the diagram below by following the steps and answering the questions for each step.
You can review the Rhode Island Beginning Teacher Standards (RIBTs) here.
a. Take a few minutes to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses as a teacher.
Strengths
I believe that my strengths as a teacher come mainly from my personality I am a loud and entertaining person. In my classroom, I feel I have these character traits so I should use them. I use my tone to demand attention and my sense of humor to keep it. While I do not have much experience as a teacher I have plenty as a student in that I know that, the best lessons are those that apply to real life. I feel I have a personal strength in relating topics to the real world. My biggest strength as a teacher is my devotion to my students I want all my students to succeed and I am willing to do whatever it takes to help them.
Weaknesses
I have found that I have some areas to improve on in the classroom. My biggest weakness is timing; both how long will this assignment take my students and logical progression of class. My problem with the logical progression of class is that I often forget to ask students to do things like take out the last assignment before I start to review it. This often leads to a situation where I have to stop class to allow the students to get out the assignment I should have had them get out in the first place.
I do not have many issues with classroom management, but I do however need to learn "grace under fire" I can deal with one or two problems just fine but when the whole class brakes down I find it difficult to get the class up and running again.
b. Describe some of your students' strengths and needs that you have noticed so far.
The unit I am teaching is magnets and motors, it is a very project based unit and therefore involves a lot of students centered group work. I have chosen to group students by achievement level (i.e. low achieving with high achieving). The problem this crated is that my low achieving students are as happy not doing anything as the high achieving are doing everything. This has lead to several discussions about the proper nature of group work and no small amount of movement on my part. The one thing I have noticed is that every student has strengths and weaknesses. While some students may have reoccurring issues I find that there is no student who will not eventually need the extra push, no matter their academic standing.
c. Download and complete this URI Self Evaluation form based on one of the lessons you taught last week. Be sure to write down specific evidence from either your lesson plan or your memory of your enactment for each assessment you give. Use a highlighter to identify areas of your teaching/lesson that were either below standard or that you feel needs improvement.
My Observation Form
a. Review your school improvement document(s). (If you forgot them, download a SALT visit.)
b. Synthesize your review by completing the following table as best your can:
Students can attend all classes on half days.
Formulate a professional development goal based the needs that you have identified. This goal should be:
In the space below, describe your professional development goal. In a second paragraph, use the information above to provide a rationale for your goal by explaining the personal need that it will address as well as how addressing this goal benefits your students and your school.
I. Professional Development Goal
My professional development goal is to maximize the utilization of the schools technologies. Westerly middle school was recently rebuilt and with the new school new technologies where made available to teachers. The 2007 SALT report credited the school with having a fantastic multi media center filled with technologies. The report went on to state the teachers needed to use the technologies in their classrooms more often. I have already used the schools LCD projectors and document cameras on several occasions and hope to get access to one of the schools smart boards. It is not just the SALT report that stresses the importance of technology in the classroom but the RIBTS. RIBTS 2.4 states, "The teacher incorporates appropriate technological recourses to support student exploration of the disciplines."
I believe that use of technology in a classroom helps to provide alternative enrichment opportunities for students of different learning types. It is understood that different people learn better from different sources, so while a lecture may help a students who is an auditory learner a visual learner needs something more. I find technology is an excellent way of providing visual examples that both help students with a strong visual style and can be used to connect concepts to the real word. When a student is able to able to see examples of subject matter in their daily lives they are more likely to consider that information important. When you incorporate technology into your classrooms, school benefits from a tech savvy student body. The more you use technology with students the better they will be able to work similar technologies. The school can then encourage teachers who are not as versed in the use of technology in their classrooms to try incorporating some tech-filled lessons. In a school where students are tech savvy teachers can take risk using new technologies, knowing their students can help.
Now that you have a PD goal, think about what type of learning opportunities you will participate in to address your needs. Use these links to investigate learning options:
Based on what you have found out, write a 1-2 paragraph narrative outlining at least two ways (PD categories) you will engage in engage in by the end of your first year of teaching. For each activity, explain how you think it will address the need that you have identified.
II. Professional Development Plan
I will need to be adequately prepared to use the technologies so I will need to attend some sort of training session so I can learn to use the available technologies to their full potential. While I maybe able to use the technology available in a rookie manner, I know that there are countless functions and applications for the different available technologies which I will need to learn. I feel if I am going to use technology in my classroom, I should have a proficient understanding of all possible applications and settings.
Once I have a decent understanding of the technologies and their uses I will want to work with the teachers at my school to help spread the knowledge. I feel if I can learn all the applications for just one devise such as a smart board, I will then be able to transfer this knowledge I have gained to further the knowledge of other teachers who may not be proficient yet. Sharing this information with other teachers helps in promoting collaboration among the school community in which teachers can further enhance their lessons through a multimedia approach. The teachers in the school with more classroom experience can give feedback to new teachers such as myself on possible way to implement this new technology into different teaching strategies and applications.